it was being held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was being held" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or situation that was occurring in the past and was ongoing at that time. Example: "The meeting was scheduled for 10 AM, but it was being held in a different location than originally planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

He added that CSX has a tradition of holding meetings in different parts of its network and that this year it was being held in New Orleans partly to show off the restoration of its facilities after they were ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The New York Times

Sallie Mae said in its letter to Vice Chancellor Leo E. Strine Jr. that it was being held hostage by the buying group, in part, because a portion of the merger agreement says Sallie Mae must obtain permission from the buying group for all major decisions prior to competing the deal.

The New York Times

It was being held in Prudential's general corporate account, earning investment income.

The New York Times

The posters for the demonstration proclaimed it was being held in support of "a country that respects women".

The Guardian

It happened during the rugby World Cup tournament, from which the country had been barred, when it was being held in Johannesburg.

The New York Times

And it was being held on Sunday, instead of Monday — that was also customary, to allow for the packing up and closing of the house.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

This year it is being held in Argentina and Chile.

Independent

But it is being held up by procedural impediments.

The New York Times

"It's being held for Mr Keith Vaz," the manager replied.

The Guardian - Books

It is being held at the Connecticut Expo Center in Hartford.

The New York Times

Not surprisingly, it will be at a fitting location: It's being held at an Elks Club.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was being held" when you want to emphasize the event or object rather than the person or entity responsible for holding it. For example, "The conference was being held in New Orleans."

Common error

Avoid using "it was being held" when the actor is known and relevant. In such cases, active voice is more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "The prisoner was being held by the guards", write "The guards were holding the prisoner".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was being held" functions as a passive construction describing an action that was in progress at some point in the past. It is generally used to describe an event, meeting, object, or piece of information being kept or contained by someone or something, as exemplified by the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was being held" is a grammatically sound and common passive construction used to describe an action in progress in the past. It's frequently found in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and provides numerous real-world examples. While versatile, it's important to use active voice when the actor is known and relevant. Alternatives like "it was taking place" or "it was conducted" may be more appropriate in certain situations, but "it was being held" remains a useful and effective option when the actor is unknown or the focus is on the action itself.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was taking place

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction, focusing on the event occurring.

it was occurring

Similar to 'taking place', emphasizing the event's occurrence without specifying who was holding it.

it was in progress

Focuses on the ongoing nature of the event or activity.

it was underway

Similar to 'in progress', indicating that the event had started and was continuing.

it was conducted

Focuses on the execution or management of the event.

it was taking hold

Indicates something was becoming established or gaining influence, rather than physically held.

it was staged

Implies a deliberate arrangement or presentation of the event.

it was scheduled

Highlights the pre-arranged nature of the event, emphasizing planning rather than the act of holding.

it was celebrated

Suggests the event was a special occasion or commemoration.

it was maintained

Implies something was kept in a certain condition or position.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it was being held" to sound more active?

To use a more active voice, you can rephrase "it was being held" to indicate who or what was holding it. For example, instead of "The meeting was being held in the conference room", you could say "The committee held the meeting in the conference room".

When is it appropriate to use the passive voice construction "it was being held"?

The passive voice is suitable when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the action rather than the actor. For example, "The evidence was being held for further analysis" is appropriate when who is holding the evidence is not the focus.

What are some alternatives to "it was being held" in a formal context?

In a formal context, alternatives to "it was being held" include phrases like "it was conducted", "it was staged", or "it was maintained", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

What is the difference between "it was being held" and "it was held"?

"It was being held" implies an ongoing action in the past, whereas "it was held" indicates a completed action. For example, "The item was being held for safekeeping" suggests the action of holding was in progress. "The item was held as evidence" indicates that the holding action has concluded.